The troops, backed by tanks and bulldozers, entered Jenin around midday and surrounded the home of a wanted Islamic Jihad militant, witnesses said, reports the AP.

When a group of youths began throwing stones at the soldiers from a nearby building, troops opened fire, hitting an 18-year-old stone-thrower in the head. Palestinian medical officials said the teen, identified as Yussef Tzadek, died later at a nearby hospital. The officials said five other Palestinians were wounded.

The Israeli army said it fired at Palestinian gunmen after troops were attacked by gunfire and explosives that left two soldiers wounded. The army had no information on the dead teen.

Jenin is considered a stronghold of Islamic Jihad, a militant group that has carried out numerous attacks despite a fragile truce between Israel and the Palestinians.